Yin Yang Bandsaw Box

Another fun little box. This is mahogany and maple with 1/4” aluminum pins for the swivel lid pieces. I had intended on this being another ring box but accidentally misaligned the holes for rings (my brain left the building for a moment I guess), so I took the base to my good friend Tom and he helped by turning it in to the open base you see here on his superior bandsaw. There was no way my little 9” was going to cut through that thick piece (I think it is 1 1/8”). He did a great job and I think it turned out great. I glued on a 1/8” thick piece of maple for the bottom then trimmed and sanded and it’s barely noticeable that it is even a separate piece. This one I finished with water based poly and really like the way the woods look together. Not sure who or what this is for but it will find a proper home, I’m sure. Thanks to Tom for your help on this one!!!!

Thanks for the compliments guys. Tony – I agree with you about switching the grain pattern, I think that makes it all look so much better too. This kind of box is a fun little project. Tom, I will probably take you up on that again in the future!!

Kim, I like this project. The grain shift is a winning idea. Nice contrast on the woods you used. It is a fine design. With a cloth liner in the bottom this would be a fine box to sell to jewelry stores for wedding and engagement rings.

I would have kept the bottom piece for a pattern and made several blanks from it using a Forstner bit and rough bandsaw cut and then a pattern router bit to finish the shape. The pattern could be screwed onto the blank using the pin holes as guides. A hole saw blade could rough cut the blank shape circle. So, hole saw outside. Forstner bit to hog out the center. band saw away waste, pattern bit using pattern as guide to get finished shape. You might consider using a small roundover bit to accentuate and outline the top shapes.

Of course you did this using fine motor skills and patience. It is beautiful work. I was just thinking of a more commercial way of making a box like this.

It changes the design a bit, but the most efficient way of making these would be to hole saw the outside, Forstner bit the center, Sand and finish. Then drop in a round liner, and Super Glue in the “bumps” that hold the swivel pins over the liner. There would be quite a bit of sanding, but there are ways to make that work too. The inside blank from the hole saw would be the ideal source for the “bumps” and would match the grain and the wood and the shape.

Naturally, if you are just making one or two of these your band saw technique is the way to go and it does show off your skills. Great project.